On that first day of their arrival they visited the Russian cemetery, and then drove to the battlefield of the Alma, where Mrs. Grey records the shaking which the Queen and she experienced in driving over the rough ground still full of great holes made by the shells used in the battle; indeed, the pony carriage broke down, and they had to get into a larger one with four horses. They saw the broken-down bridge over the Alma, just as it was left after the battle; the party drove through the water, and Dr. Russell pointed out where the Duke of Cambridge had passed with his Staff--in fact, the King and Queen examined the battlefield most thoroughly, studying the various positions occupied by the forces on both sides. The Russian authorities entertained the party at luncheon in a Tartar farm-house, which had been used during the war as a field-hospital. Dr. Russell, Major Alison, and Captain Ellis, who had all been there during the war, were perpetually pointing out fresh places of interest, and in the evening the Russian officials were entertained at dinner on board the _Ariadne_. Nothing could exceed the tact and courtesy of the Russians, who affected to regard the war as if it had been some long distant historical campaign, and had no hesitation even in pointing out to their visitors the different places where the Russian forces had been beaten. It is needless to mention the names of all the places visited by the Royal party. Wherever they went the beautiful old Russian custom of offering bread and salt was never omitted, the inhabitants of the villages always rushing out and presenting these signs of hospitality to Queen Alexandra. On the 14th the Royal party found the _Psyche_ in the harbour of Balaklava, in which they embarked and steamed out of the harbour to see the rocks at the entrance where the ship _Prince_ was lost in 1845, and where the Duke of Cambridge had such a narrow escape in the _Retribution_. On re-landing they visited the field of Balaklava, and listened to many amusing stories told by Dr. Russell. That night the party slept at Livadia, and were most agreeably entertained by Count Stenboch, who had been sent all the way from St. Petersburg on purpose to receive the King and Queen. The _Ariadne_ and _Psyche_ had been sent round from Sevastopol to meet the party, and after visiting some villas in the neighbourhood, they all embarked in the _Ariadne_ and bade farewell to their Russian friends with much regret. On the 16th they anchored again opposite the Sultan’s palace, and His Majesty and King Edward exchanged farewell visits. On the 17th the _Ariadne_ left Constantinople for Athens; she was lighted up with red and blue lights held by sailors at the end of the yard-arm. The Turkish ships were all illuminated, and rockets, music, and cheering sped the parting guests.